Primary school removed from monitoring by inspection body after making ‘sufficient progress’

A Wrexham primary school has been removed from monitoring after tackling issues raised in an inspection report.

Ysgol Penrhyn in New Broughton was placed under review by Estyn last year.

The national inspection body highlighted a number of areas for improvement, including developing pupils’ Welsh speaking and listening skills and enhancing their writing abilities.

They also found there was too much variation in quality between classes and said the role of the governing body was limited.
However, one of Estyn’s assistant directors has now told the school it has made enough progress to be removed from intervention status.

In a letter, Mererid Wyn Williams said: “The school is judged to have made sufficient progress in addressing the recommendations from the Section 28 inspection.

“The school has been removed from the list of schools requiring Estyn review.

“There will be no further monitoring activity in relation to this inspection.”

In total there are more than 200 pupils attending the school, including nursery children.

According to the original inspection report, the amount spent per pupil is £3,414 compared to a maximum of £8,755 and minimum of £2,924 elsewhere in Wrexham.

The overall assessment was that the school’s performance and prospects for improvement were adequate, but it was required to draw up an action plan to address several recommendations.

Teachers were also told they needed to provide more opportunities for pupils to apply their numeracy skills and ensure they adapt work to meet the needs of all youngsters.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).